Corn-harvester



4 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' (No Model.)

W. H. KARICOFB.

GURN HARVESTER.

Patented. July 8, 1888.

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(No Model.) 4 Sheets-Sheet 3.

W. H. KARIGOFE.

CORN HARVESTER.

No. 385,632. y, Patented July s, 1888.

WITJV'ESSES, [JVV'EJVTR I (No Model.) 4 sheets-sheet 4.-

W. H. KARICOFE.

CORN HARVESTER.

No. 385,632. Y Patented July 3, 1888.

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WITNESSES H .H l y INVENTOR, I ,dwbn .pa/@Z .ttorney UNITED STATES PATENT Trice6 TILLIAM H. KARICOFE, OF MAR'IINSBURG, YVEST VIRGINIA.

CORNmHRVESTER.

SPECIFICATION omiing part of Letters Patent No. 385,632, dated .uiy 3, 1888.

Application tiled Nnveinlzcr 1S, 18S?. Serial No. 255,(i57. (No mndel.)

To all whom 7215 may con/cern:

Be it known that I, ULLLUI H. KARI- corn, a citizen of the United States, residing at Martinsburg, in the county of Berkeley and State of West Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Corn-Harvesters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accom` panying drawings.

This invention relates to that class of harvcstingmachines known as "corn-hm'vesters," and of the type illustrated in Letters Patent granted to me June l5, 1886, No. 343,768; and its objectsare,esscntially, toimprovethc guides and the mechanism that directs the corn to the cutter, the mechanism for elevating and dun1ping the cut corn, and the parts connected therewith; and to this end the invention consists in certain arrangements of parts and con` structions hereinafter described.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of the improved machine, the elevatingapron being removed; Fig. 2,' a front View; Fig. 8, a section on the line x x, Fig. l, looking forward; Fig. 4, a section on the line g/ y, Fig. 1; Fig. 5, a side elevation of the grain side of thc machine, showing the guard and adjacent parts; Fig. e', a detail View of a part of the adjusting mechanism of the guard looking from the inner side; Figs. 7 and S, scctional detail .views of the supports for the auf@ iliary belt for carrying and supporting the heads of the corn; and Fig. 9, a detail sec tional view of one of the reel-arms, showing the cushion thereon.

ln the drawings, A is the main frame of the, machine, of suitable form and strength for the purpose of supporting the various mechanisms hereinafter referred to.

The frame is supported on a main wheel, B, and grain-wheel C. The axle ofthe wheel B carries a gear-wheel l), which engages a pinion, d, on a shaft-,19, thclatter being provided willi bevel gear-wheels b and c, from which power is transmitted to the mowingparts of the machine.

The corn to be cnt is directed by guides F G to the critter' H, which may be of anysnitable construction, and driven by gear or other connections to the shaft E. The cutter H in the present machine is reciprocated by means of a shaft, e, provided on one end with a small bevel gear-wheel, c, which meshes with the large bevel gear-wheel I), and on the other end willi a diskwhccl, t, provided vwith a wristpin. The pitman-rodj connects the cutter H with the wrist-pin on the disk-wheel. The guides F and G are wider apart at the front ends` than at the rear mids, so as to gather the corn and direct it tothe cutter. andthe guide F is preferably braced by a rod., in, bolted to the frame of the machine.

The guide F may be of any suitable construction, while the guide G, as shown, consists of a timber, H', projecting outward and forward from the front of the machine on the grain side, and divcrging strips O, upwardly and rearwardly inclined from the front end of timber H. The grain side ofthe nrichineis provided with an upright board, I, a strip, K, supported on and above the board I-by other strips, L, vertically adjustable on the said board, and a strip, M, parallel 'to and a short distance above the strip K and attached there. to, and having an extension, N, projecting out` ward at an angle thereto. The strips K and M form a guard for preventing the cut stalks from falling off of the machine on the grain side. The inclined strips O connect the forward ends of the strips K and M with the front cud of the timber H', to which the said strips are joined by any suitable llexilble connection, though preferably by a malleable-iron strap, P, which permits of the vertical adjustment of the strips K and M.

At the stnbbieward end of the cutter is journaled an upright shaft, R, rotated by suitable connections with the shaft E and carrying a reel formed of arms S, arranged tangentially on a hub,'l,and connected and braced by a ring, U. In the present machine the reelshat't is rotated by means of a shaft,f, provided on one end with a bevel gcar-wheehf, which meshes with the wheel c, and on the other end with a bevel-wheel,j", which engages with and rotates a bevel geanwheel, k, secured on the vertical reel-shaft. This vertical .reel-shalt is stepped in a suitable bearing on the frame of the machine, and isjournaled in a bearing on a horizontal arm, l, supported on a portion of the frame of the machine a short distance below the reel, the arm Z heilig braced by two inclined brace-rods, Z l', bolted to it and the frame A.

The arms S are so arranged that they will each be parallel with the cutter' when directly over the saine, and are of such length that they will extend between the strips K and M when near the said cutter. The arms being' usually constructed of wood,are liable toinjure green crops having soft stalks; and for such work I cover the operating portions of the said arms with some material--as rubber, cloth, or the like-which will act asa cushion and engage thestalks without bruising them, as shown in Fig. 9.

The machine is provided with an elevatingapron, V, supported and driven by a roller, V, on a shaft, YV, at the upper end, and snp ported by a roller, W', at thelower end. This apron V is prevented from sagging too far when weighted with the cut corn by guideboards Y for the upper section or part, and shouldered guide-boards Zand strip V for the lower section or part, the shoulders on the boards Z preventing lateral movement of the apron.

Adjacent to the front guide-board, Y, is a butt-board, A, for preventing the cut stalks from moving toward the front of the machine. The apron is operated by a chain. a, extend ing from a sprocket-wheel on the shaft W to a sprocket-wheel on a shaft. B, driven by the shaft E, through the medium of the gearwheels b and g, and the said shaft XV carriesa toothed wheel or wheels, O', adjacent to the front edge of the apron,to throw or carry the butt-ends ofthe stalks beyond the upper end of the apron, and thereby prevent them from sliding down the inclined surface of the said apron. The chain n is kept taut by means of a suitable belt-tghtener, a', bolted to a convenient portion ot' the machine-frame.

rlhe shaft W' is extended rearward beyond the body of the machine and there carries a pulley, D', between which and the body ofthe machine the said shaft is provided with one or more washers, 1G', which regulate the position of the said pulley and permit ils adjustment to or from the machine.

At a point adjacent to but above the roller NV is a rod or bar, F', extending rearwardly from the machine and carrying aloose pulley, G', held thereon by a set-collar, H. The pulleys G and D' support an auxiliary belt, l, provided with lugs and designed to receive and carry upward the heads ot' such stalks as may betoo long for the apron. To support the auxiliary belt l and prevent it from sagging while it is traveling upward and carrying the heads of the cornstalks, is a rigid inclined frame, 1, which is loosely supported upon the shaft W and the rod F', and held thereon by the pnlleysD and G', as shown in Fig. l.

Under the ylower end of the apron and extending trom the cutter to the rear of the niachine is a guard-plate, K', which prevents the stubble from interfering in any manner with the said apron. Hinged to the inner side of the board I, and above the lower end of the apron, is a guard, L, which prevents the stalks from falling below the end of the apron and thereby clogging the same, but which may be raised (see dotted lines, Fig. 3) to permit the removal of' the lower roller and apron. Supported on a suitable part ofthe frame and below the reel, but over the cutter and the lower end of' the apron, is an arm, lll,pret`erablyad instable vertically and curving rearward and toward the board I, and then rearward and away from the said board t'orashort distance, and tinally abruptly downwardly. Asshown in Fig. 2 of the drawings, this arm M is secured to a vertical post of the frame of the machine by means ot' bolts d, the arm being provided with a number of bolt-aperturts to cnableit to be adjusted vertically thereon.

Adjacent to the upper end of the apron is an inclined receiver, N', provided at its lower end with a pivoted gate, O,which normally supports the contents of the said receiver. The gate O', as shown most clearly in Fig. 2, is secured on a rock-shaft, o, journaled in a convenient portion of the machineframe,and the forward end of this rock-shaft is provided with a rigid arm, o', which is connected to the lower end of a pivoted lever, P', by means of a link, o". By means of this lever P itis obvious that the gate O may be released to dump the cnt corn collected in the inclined receiver whenever the same becomes full. This lever I is held in its normal positon-that is, with the gate closedby means ot acatch, R',boltcd to the frame-work of the machine, the catch being engagcdsby an ordinary springbolt on the levcrand operated from the handlethereot'. The inclined receiver N is braced by bracerods p bolted to the maclline-frame.

S' is a wind-guard at the side ofthe receiver, over the gate O', to prevent thewind from acting on the stalks as they enter the receiver and when therein. This wind-guard is supported by an arm, S", bolted securely to a beam, S, of the frame ot` the machine byv means of a bolt, S5, this bolt passing through the beam Sl and into the enlarged forward end, S", ofthe arm S.

It is often desirable to adjust thc guides and lthe cutter relatively to lthe ground, and to do this I have devised a means that is both simple and readily operated.

To the front of the frame I pivot the pole T, and over the same place a rigidly-xed stainlard, U, the upper end ot' which carries a pivoted threaded eye, V. Connected to the pole and passing through the eye V is a threaded rod, X', provided at the upper end witha manipulatiiig-handle. This screw-threaded rod X is swiveled to a yoke or clcvis, X, which embraces and is pivotally connected to the pole by a transverse bolt, X, which passes horizontally through the pole.

It is evident that as the rod is turned the IOO front ofthe machine will be raised orlowerell, as the main and grain wheels act as fulcrum for the frame and thehorses necks as fnlerum for the pole.

The pole T is braced laterally by means of diagonal brace-rods q, which are bolted rigidly to the pole at their forward ends and are pivotally secured to the front beam ot' the frame at their rear ends.

The letter q designates two plates bolted upon opposite sides of the pole at its rear end, these plates affording a firm and durable bearing for the horizontal bolt which pivots the pole to the trame, this pivot-al bolt passing through ears or brackets q upon the frame and the rear ends of the'said plates q and the rear end of the pole.

The fixed standard U is braced by means of inclined brace-rods r, bolted to it and the frame ofthe machine.

The letter s designates the drivers seat, which is secu red on the front of' the machine, and t desiguales the foot-rest, which is braced and supported by means ot' brace-rods t'.

The letter a designates the usual pivoted clutch-lever, employed to throw the pinion d into and out ot' engagement with the usual clutch-wheel, d', on'the shalt E.

The letter w designates a stop bolted to the front of the inclined receiver I for the purpose of limiting the movement of the lever P'.

K desi gnatesan inclined board resti ng edgewise ou the guard-plate K, immediately in the rear ot' the cutter, this board servingl to prevent the cut stalks from interfering willi the lower portion or ply ofthe apron.

When the machine is in operation iu the ield, the corn is directed by the guides Fand G to the ent-ter, the arms ot' the reel acti ng to keep the said stalks upright and aid in torcing them against the said cutter and onto the apron when cnt.

By arranging the arms of the reel tangentially to the hub, so that they are parallel to the cutter when above it, the stalks are presented to the cutter in aperfectly vertical position at the same time, and I iind that the operation of this part of the machine is much improved over that oi" a machine usi-ng` areel with arms otherwise disposed.

It will be noticed that the reel-arms extend lhronghthe space between the strips K and M, w hich arrangement prevents the stalks Yl'rom engaging between the said strips and the ends ofthe reel-arms, as they are liable to do when the arms are shorter. When the stalks are cut, the reel forces the upper parts to the rear, so that the stalks will la-ll on the apron.

To prevent the stalks from beingthrown diagonally on the apron by the reel or otherwise, the arm M' is provided and serves to crowd them toward the board I, and so that they will tall at right angles to the apron. As some stalks are longer than the apron, their heads or upper ends will fall on the auX- iliary belt to the rear thereof, and the entire stalk will be maintained in proper position while heilig carried upward.

It will be noticed that the lower end ol' the belt is higher than the lower end of the apron, (see Fig. 2,) so that the stubble,which will be more or less lient when passing under themachinawill not engage the ends of the longer stalks,as the stubble straighteus after passing the end of the guard-plate K.

rlhe strips K and M and the guide G serve to diret-t the stalks to the apron and cutter, respectively, while the extension N serves to prevent the uncut stalks on the grain side from approaching closely enough to engage the cut stalks as they fall toward the apron. Alter being cut the stalks are elevated over the main wheel and to the receiver, from which latter they, may be dumped from time to time.

lhe invention is not contined to the exact construction and arrangement ot' parts shown, as the same may be changed without departing` l'rom the spirit of the said invention.

Having thus fully described my invention` what I claim as new, and desire to seou're by Letters Patent, is

l. In a corn harvester, the combination, of the frame of the machine suitably mounted, the cutter, the vertical reel-shaft, the hubnpon this reel-shaft, and the reel-arms secured tangentially upon this hub, the said vertical reelshalt being` journaled in the frame of the machine at one end ofthe cnt-ter and forward ot' the same a distance equal to the radius ofthe hub, whereby when the reel-shaft is revolved the reel-arms on the hub will assume a position parallel to the cutter when over it., suhstantially as described.

2. In a corn-harvester, the combination of the t'rame suitably mounted, the Glitter, the rcel, the board l on the grainward side ofthe machine, the strips K and M, located one above the other vertically over the grainboard I and adjustablysupported thereon, the guide G, comprising the horizontal timber tl', extending forward from the front end ot' the grainward side of the frame, and the strips O. secured to the forward end ot" the timber H' and inclined upwardly and rearwardly therefrom, and connected, respectively, to the forward ends of the said strips K and M, substantially as described.

3. In acorn harvester, the comhination,with the frame suitably mounted, of the cutter, the reel, an upwardly-inclined elevating-apron to the rear ot' the reel, and the upwardly-inclined auxiliary belt l to the rear ot' the elevatingapron and adapted to carry the heads ot' the cut corn, the lower end of this auxiliary belt being raised above the lower end of the elevating-apron, whereby the stubble is prevented t'roin engaging the heads of the cut corn, substantially as described.

4. The combination, in a corn-harvester, of the frame suitably mounted, the cutter, the reel, the upwardly-inclined elevating-apron to IOO the rear of the reel,and the upwardly-inclined auxiliary belt I', located tothe rear ofthe elevating-apron and adapted to carry the heads ofthe cut corn, the said auxiliary belt being adjustable toward and from the rear edge of theelevatingapron,substantially as described.

5. In a corn-harvester, the combination of the frame, the cutter, the reel, the upwardlyinclined elevating-apron located to the rear of the reel, the shaft NV and rod It', projecting from the rear end of the frame, the shaft V being approximately in line with the upper end of the elevating-apron, the pulleys D' and G' upon this shaft and rod, respectively, and the upwardly-inclined auxiliary belt I', traveling upon the pulleys G' and D'. and the removable washers upon the shaft XV, int( rposed between the pulley D thereon and the end of the machine, whereby the auxiliary belt may be adjusted to or from the elevating apron, substantially as described.

6. In a corn-harvester, the combination of the frame., the cutter, the board l, located on the grainward side of the machine, the vertical reel-shaft located at one end of the cutter and a distance forward of the same equal to the radius ofthe hub upon the reel-shaft, the hubb' upon the reel-shaft, the reel-arms secured tangentially upon this hub, whereby they as sume a position parallel to the cutter when over it, and the arm M', secured upon the fraaie under the reel and extending rearwardly therefrom and curving toward the said board I, then away from it, and then abruptlydownward toward the apron, and the elevating-apron, substantially as described.

7. In a corn-harvester, the combination of the frame, the inclined elevatingapron, an inclinedy receiver adjacent to the upper end of the apron, a gate, O', secured upon a roi-l;` shaft journaled at the lower end of the receiver, a rigid arm, 0', upon the forward end of this rock-shaft, a pivoted lever, P', connected to arm 0' by means of a link, whereby the eut corn may be released from the inclined receiver by throwing down the gate, a catch for holding the lever P' in its normal position, and a wind-guard at one side of the inclined receiver and over the free edge ofthe gate, substantially as described.

8. In a corn harvester, the combination of the frame, the cutter, the vertical reel-shaft located at one end of the cutter, the hub secured upon the reel-shaft, the reel arms secured tangentially upon the said hub, the arm M', secured to the frame beneath the reel and extending rearwardly therefrom and convex toward the grainward side of the machine and terminating with an abrupt downward exten- Sion, the grain-board I, the upwardlyinclined elevating-ajnon, the strips K and M, located one above the other vertically over the grainboard I and adjnstably supported thereon, the

guide G, comprising the timber H', projecting forward from the frontend of the machine, the strips O O, attached to the forward end of the timber H'. extending upwardly and rearwardly therefrom and connected to the forward ends of the strips K and H, the metallic strap P, connecting the forward ends of the timber H and strips 0 O, the arms of thesaid reel extending between the said strips K and M. as and for the purpose described.

9. In a corn harvester, the combination of the frame, the cutter, the reel adjacent thereto, the elevating-apron, the grain-board I, the strips K and M, located one above the other vertically over the grain board I. vertical strips L, adj ustabl y secured to board I, for adjustably supporting the strips K and M. the guide. F and the guide G, comprising` the timber H', projecting from the frontend of thc grainward side ofthe machine, the upwardlyT4 inclined strips O C), connecting the forward v end of the timber H' to the forward ends of the adj ustable strips K and M, andthe metallic strap P, connecting the forward ends of the timber H' and strips O O, substantially as described.

10. In a corn harvester, the combination of the frame, the cutter, the reel adjacent thereto, the elevating-apron, the grain board l, the strips K and M, located one above the other vertically over the grain-board and adj ustably supported thereon, the guard extension N,se cured upon the upper edge of the strip M and inclined upwardly and outwardly toward the graiuward side of the machine, and the forwardly-projecting guides F and G, the latter comprising the timber H', projecting from the grain ward side of the frontend of the machine, andthe inclined strips O O, connecting the forward end of the timber H' with the forward ends of the strips K and M, substantially as described.l

11. In a corn harvester, the combination of the frame, the reel, the cutter, the aproirroller W', the upper aproirroller, 72, the shaft V. extended out rearwardly fiom the frame, the inclined apron traveling upon the said rollers, the rod F', secured rigidly to the frame of the machine and extending rearwardly therefrom, the pulleys upon the extension of the shaft \\f' and rod F', the auxiliary belt I', traveling uponv the said pulleys and moving in unison with the apron, and the frame I", supporting the auxiliary belt, this frame being loosely supported u pon the extension ofthe shaft \V and the rod F', substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

\V M. H. K ARICO FE.

fitnessesz CHAs. D. Davis, H. J. ENNIs. 

